About this project

£20,650

pledged of £10,000 goal

283

backers

Update Staurday Feb 17. With huge thanks to Katia at The Wee Boulangerie, we've made it past £19k. Now there's hope for Jani's legs. Can you help us save them? It's a big hill and a long road but this is the last, best hope for them.

Scroll down to the bottom to see how it all works.

Very FAQ: you can put every soupon in either a single or joint name so if you want to share a Silver, Gold or Lifetime soupon - you can

Hello

In October 2011, I set up Union of Genius, Scotland’s first soup café. The idea was simple - to make the best soup in Edinburgh from locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and reward my customers for recycling their packaging. By offering six different soups everyday I believed there would be something for everyone.

Our cafe

Fourteen months later, even though there are now four of us soupmongers we can no longer keep up with demand. Eight other cafes already stock our soup and several more want to. Many of our friends and customers have asked us to open up in different places in Edinburgh and beyond. We can’t do that (yet) but we can do the next best thing and bring our soup to a café near you.

To do that we need to set up a proper commercial kitchen allowing us to make soup in 20 litre batches to the same standard we do now. Such things don’t come cheap and with banks hoarding their money we have decided to bypass the broken financial system and fund the new kitchen directly.

For that, we need you.

Our new kitchen

We have found a site that is ideal for us. The landlord is supportive, the location is right and the facilities are just what we need. What we have to do is to outfit it. The big-ticket items we need to invest in are a substantial blast-chiller, cabinet fridge, chest freezers, six-ring gas hob, commercial vegetable dicers, food preparation counters, shelving and a whole load of pots and pans.

This is the fridge we are looking for.

This will cost us around £10,000 in total. What it will allow us to do is to make each soup fresh, chill it down for a minimum of 12 hours for the flavours to meld then test and season it just before delivery. It is important to us that every soup is made from scratch - no pre-mixed pastes here - and made by hand every single time.

This is very labour intensive but the kitchen equipment will enable us to make sure that every soup is made safely and with the attention to detail we pride ourselves on.

You need soup

Our aim has always been “to make soup the star of the show.” That means every single one of our soups is made by hand from just the ingredients you can get in the grocers. We don’t use pre-mixes and we don’t thicken with flour, so most of our soups are gluten-free. We also work to make sure that we have a soup for everyone. Each day we make two meat-based, two vegetarian and two vegan soups. All of them packed with vegetables and focused on seasonal ingredients.

Some of our spices

The secret to it is giving the soup time to meld. We make our soups the day before and leave them overnight so that the different flavours can mingle. Like a good Scotch whisky, a soup needs time to mature. The day we serve it, the soup is tasted, seasoned and adjusted and doesn’t leave the kitchen until the soupmonger in charge is completely happy with it.

The other secret is that the humble soup does not need to be humble at all. It’s too often relegated to a single “soup of the day,” the item on the menu that no one pays attention to. Not with us. To give you a taste of what we do, here are just some of the 60+ soups we’ve made in the last few months.

Caldo Verde - chorizo and kale in a broth of potatoes, onions and garlic seasoned with sweet, smoked paprika.

The Mighty Merguez - merguez-spiced soup with lamb & beef merguez-spiced sausages for a double helping of merguez, which is why we call it “mighty.”

Moroccan Harira - the classic lentil and chickpea soup with harissa and cinnamon.

Sweet potato with ginger, coconut and tamarind - a silky smooth soup with a hit of both sweet and sour.

Keeping it green

From the beginning we have aimed to be an eco-friendly, sustainable business. All our take-away packaging is made from compostable plant starch by Vegware. Instead of rewarding our customers for consumption, we reward them with a loyalty point for bringing back their packaging. The charity Edinburgh Cyrenians then compost all our food waste and returned packaging and then the compost helps grow new plants. From making to eating we have closed the loop which is why we call the idea “Full Circle.”

As we have moved into delivery we have taken the same approach. Our soups are delivered in Edinburgh by bicycle courier, Pronto Pedal Power. The containers we use are returned, washed, sanitised and reused so there is no plastic waste. The courier even gets fed soup to keep pedalling. Now we are looking to expand our wholesale supplies, we can build on the success of our bicycle deliveries to keep our impact on the environment to a minimum. It is more expensive than sending a staff member around Edinburgh in a van but we think it’s worth it.

Neil from Pronto Pedal Power

Meet the soupmongers

Union of Genius is the brainchild of Elaine Mason, once a geologist and bookseller, now Scotland’s first soupmonger.

Amy Brewer has been with us since day one. Drummer in a rock-band and former linguist, she’s the one who keeps the café running smoothly and makes sure everything is in its proper place.

Cheryl Donohoe is our newest recruit. With many years of experience in catering, she makes soup like a well-oiled machine and is helping us expand our repertoire.

Janahan Balasubramaniam is our ace server, barista and self-declared eye-candy. With a background in sales and marketing, Jani is the one who will be looking after our new customers.

Bruce Mason likes to be called “Dr Genius” and thinks of himself as a soup Svengali. In reality, he helps with the books and washing up.

The noble art of peeling

Union of What?

Union of Genius is a big name for a small cafe. But it does represent what we think a soup should be: a union of diverse flavours that is more than the sum of its parts. It is also how we think we should be as a team and how we work with local companies such as Vegware, Pronto Pedal Power and Edinburgh Cyrenians.

We have been utterly delighted with how our first year has gone. We thought it was a good idea but even we didn’t expect it to have the impact it did. If you want to have a look for yourself we have put some links to reviews in the FAQ at the end.

Kickstart our kitchen

We realise that many of you reading this won’t have seen Kickstarter before and you might be puzzled by it. The main thing you need to know is that this is an “all or nothing” deal. You pledge a certain amount. If the total amount pledged meets the goal (£10,000) then the project gets funded, your payment card gets debited and we arrange for you to receive the reward you asked for. If we don’t reach our total then nobody’s card gets debited and nobody gets any money.

We think that Kickstarter is a way of expanding our business that matches our ethos. Everyone who backs us, no matter how much or how little, is important to us. Our first year of trading has given us the track record and confidence to know that we are ready to take the next step. Working with backers through Kickstarter means we can bring the best soup we can possibly make to cafés across Edinburgh in the greenest way we know. We are excited. We hope you are too, and hope you want to become part of it.

---Elaine & the soupmongers

Mystery hand

Stretch goals

Kickstarter veterans will know all about these. Basically if we manage to reach a certain total above our goal we add something extra to the rewards.

£11,500 Everybody gets one - achieved!

Everyone is getting a sixth recipe card - The Big Green - added to their rewards for free. The Big Green is one of the soups we are most proud of. It is as good ambient (lightly chilled) as it is hot. It is the soup that was awarded Lunchquest's "exceptional" status and is one of our most popular spring and summer soups.

£13,000 Help us help others - achieved!

We will provide free soup to Edinburgh's Care Van in perpetuity or for as long as they want.The Care Van is run by Bethany Christian Trust in partnership with the Edinburgh city mission. It provides provides soup, rolls, clothing, blankets, support and homelessness information to between 20-60 rough sleepers in Edinburgh city centre every night.

£18,000 A year in soup - achieved!

We will replace the six indvidual recipe cards with a collection of 12 soup recipe cards in a sleeve: one for each month of the year. Everyone who has pledged for the soupmongering kit or higher gets this added for free to their reward. Everyone else gets a second recipe card (Big Green and one other) added for free.

£19,000 T-shirt upgrade - achieved

All the t-shirts will be upgraded to bamboo at no extra cost to you. That way you will have a much more ecologically sustainable fashion item. If anyone knows of bamboo aprons, let us know!

£21,000 Save Jani's Legs

Shortly after we agreed on the Leith premises we discovered something. You see, Leith is at sea level. Union of Genius is about 110m above sea level. Perhaps this picture will explain the issue.

Pedalling up that hill

As we're committed to pedal power we had been taking advice on electric assist. It was that or we need to feed Jani a lot of high protein soup. Then we discovered that Uula, who is making our soup trike for us, has been making his own assist out of the same recycled materials he is making the bike from. What's more it has enough oomph to get 60kg of soup up a hill. This will keep the bike as green as possible but it doesn't come cheap. We're looking at the best part of 1.2K. So...

If you can get us up this hill, Jani's legs will love you forever and we will celebrate by adding a free "#soupmonger" iron-on patch/badge/or button (not sure yet and happy to take requests) to everyone who has pledged for a reward of £20 or more. We'll either add it to your post or you can collect it at the cafe. (We'll also make it available as a £10 add-on with free shipping for those who want multiples or lower value rewards.) Furthermore, if you're ever around, you're welcome to come by (just email us in advance) and get a photo of yourself on the Union trike.

The #soupmonger tag was coined by one of our very first backers, Brian (you'll see him on twitter as @teknobot). We instantly fell in love with the idea so it's great to have a chance to use it.

£22,000 The Genius Collective - final goal

We mentioned a recipe book earlier. Want to get involved in doing the research?

If you can get us to this point we will set up a backer-only private bulletin board where we will post recipes as we work on them and you can do the same. We will swap ideas, test them out with you, encourage you to try them and suggest changes to us. This will then be the source from which the recipe book is created. What we want to do is create a book that will have comments and variations from you scattered throughout it. If any of you fancy your hand at food photography we would love to be able to use real photos from real kitchens.

We're really excited by this idea. If it takes off it will take some work from us but the beauty of Kickstarter is that if you, down here in the soupmines with us, want to make it work, it will work. It's your money and your choice. The stretch goal total gives us the financial cushion to develop and host the online community and also to pay staff to cover Elaine as she experiments with scaled down recipes with you.

So much of what makes soup special is sharing. We know that many of you love to make soup as much as eat it. This goal will allow us all to share in the creation of something just a little bit different and a little bit special. We hope this last goal is something you want to aim for as much as we do.

The Silver, Gold and Lifetime soupons can be put in a single name or a joint name. If you use a joint name then both named people can use it (though only one at a time). We have updated the Lifetime soupon to reflect this but we can't change the text on the Gold or Silver soupons because they have already been chosen.

If there are any groups, clubs, societies or businesses interested in a multi-user soupon, contact us and we will see what we can come up with. There will be some extra costs involved though.

Soup buddy promo. For each person you introduce to our kickstarter who backs us for at least £5, we will add a PDF recipe card to your reward for absolutely nothing. What's more, if we are going to be posting you something we will add a printed copy into your pack for no extra charge. All your soup buddy needs to do is to email us with your name or leave a message in the comments. That way we all get closer to our goal and we get to thank you for helping us.

You can pledge for multiple rewards if you wish. What you need to do is to decide what you want, add up the total value and pledge that amount. Then tick the box of the highest value pledge. Once you have pledged, use the contact us link and let us know what you want. We will double check at the end of the Kickstarter. So if you forget to tell us or change your mind, don't worry. For example, Mr Owl wants a t-shirt for himself and a twopon for Ms Pussycat so he pledges a total of £48 and ticks the t-shirt box for a reward. He then contacts us to let us know what he wants.

Do you like graphs and numbers and projections? Kicktraq is tracking the progress of this project. Check us out at kicktraq.com.

Risks and challenges

We have set this project up to minimise the risks. The unit we are leasing is a simple shell in good condition. We have done due diligence with environmental health and Edinburgh Planning Department to ensure there are no obstacles to using the unit as an industrial kitchen. The fit-out will be simple and all equipment is mobile so does not need to be built in. All the rewards will be met through the cafe which already has over a year’s successful trading behind it. That way, if you back us you know you will be able to receive your rewards. Most importantly, you can judge us on what we have achieved so far, and help us take the next step.

FAQ

Kickstarter UK can take payment in any currency. The amount of your pledge in your currency will depend on the exchange rate when the Kickstarter ends. If this worries you then contact us and we'll look into setting up a Paypal payment page.

The Silver, Gold and Lifetime soupons can be put in a single or joint name. If in a joint name, either of you can use it. If you tell us in advance, we are happy for you to occasionally lend it to someone who really needs a soup. The Long Distance soupon is in a single name but the holder can bring a different guest each time if they so wish.

The short answer is, maybe. It’s actually quite hard to scale down recipes for 30 to recipes for 4-6. If you put in one teaspoon of a spice in a soup that feeds 30, how do you translate that into 1/5 of a teaspoon? When we get time we make sample scaled-down soups to test them out. If there is enough demand, we will look into ways to offer recipes to our backers. In the meantime check-out the rewards which feature some of our recipes.

Aw shucks. We love you too. If you are up for it, please tell friends and family, mention us on social media like twitter, facebook and REDDIT and spread the word. The more backers we get, the better we will all do.

Support this project

Select this reward

Pledge £5 or more
About $8

Soupporter. Thanks for backing us and being a supporter. We will put your name on our website and Facebook page as a big thank you. This is added to all rewards no matter how big or small. You are all important to us.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £10 or more
About $16

Soupon! Have a free soup on us. We will email you a PDF soupon with a unique Kickstarter code that is good for one free standard or large soup sometime in 2013. It is good for sit in or take away but you will need to make it to the cafe to have your soup. The soupon is not transferrable but you can ask us to put someone else’s name on it if you want to give it as a gift.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £10 or more
About $16

Recipe card. As a thanks for supporting us, we will send you a recipe card for one of our soups signed by Elaine. You can choose from: Caldo Verde, Broccoli, bacon and chilli, Moroccan Harira, Cock-a-leekie or Chic-pea (chickpea and freekeh). Shipping is free in the UK.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £20 or more
About $32

Twopon! We will email you a PDF twopon with a unique Kickstarter code that is good for you and a friend to each have a free standard or large soup sometime in 2013. It is good for sit in or take away but you will need to make it to the cafe to have your soup. The twopon is not transferable but you can ask us to put someone else’s name on it if you want to give it as a gift.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £28 or more
About $45

Soupmongering t-shirt! You will be soup styling in one of five never to be repeated Union of Genius Kickstarter Tour t-shirts with a recipe on the back. Choose from Bacon and Butternut, Caldo Verde, Devilled Pumpkin, Moroccan Harira or Tomato Florentine. We will contact you with colours, soup choice and size requirements after the Kickstarter. Shipping in the UK included in the price.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £30 or more
About $48

The soupmonger’s share. We will make you 5 litres of soup in a flavour of your choice: that’s enough to feed 15 people. We will send you a list of at least 60 different soups to choose from and agree a date with you. You will need to collect it from either the cafe or the kitchen because soup doesn’t post well.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £50 or more
About $80

Soup Pic ‘n’ mix. You get 5 soups, 2 litres of each. Take them home and freeze them or wow your friends at a soup party with your mad soup-making skillz. We will arrange a date with you and send you a selection to choose from. You come to the kitchen to pick them up.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £75 or more
About $120

Soupmongering kit! You get the soupmongering t-shirt and soupmongering apron rewards and all five recipe cards from the recipe card reward. Now you can get your soup on in style! Shipping in the UK included in the price.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £100 or more
About $160

Early Bird Souperstar. You get the soupmongering kit (£75 reward) and a twopon (£20 reward) and the soupmonger's share (£30 reward) and, of course, you are listed as a soupporter (£5). Come on and rock me Amadeus. (We cannot ship this offer because it includes soup.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £100 or more
About $160

Soup Fashionista. As a thanks for supporting us you get this strictly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dye Jani's hair (the mohawk bit of it as the rest is too short) whatever colour you like. The day we hit our goal, even if the project is not yet over, you can choose a colour or specific hair dye. We will video the whole process and stick it on YouTube as well as here and Jani will wear it for at least 2 weeks. Your fashion sense will be admired by each and every customer served by Jani. You can of course pop into the cafe and have your photo taken with your male masterpiece and enjoy a soup on us while you are there.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £150 or more
About $240

The silver soupon! Free soup once a week for a year. Yes, you did read that right. We will email you a PDF soupon with a unique Kickstarter code that is good for one free standard or large soup of your choice every week for a year. It is good for sit in or take away but you will need to make it to the cafe to have your soup. The soupon is not transferable but you can ask us to put someone else’s name on it if you want to give it as a gift.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £150 or more
About $240

Long Distance Soupon. Based on a backer idea, this is something for people who visit Edinburgh from time to time or maybe come for a long visit to the Edinburgh Festival as we are right at the heart of the Fringe. As a thanks for supporting us, we'll give you the equivalent of 16 Twopons for this pledge. Each time you visit us, you and a guest get the soup for free until you have used up all 16. There's no time limit for you to use the soupon and no restrictions on how often per week you can use it. We will email you a PDF with a unique Kickstarter code and you can start using it next time you are in Edinburgh.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £200 or more
About $321

Soup masterclass. This is a half day in the ktichen with Elaine for you and a friend (or just you if you prefer). The session will cover flavour combinations, finishing soups, matching breads and toppings and assistance in making a soup of your choice. At the end of it you get to take your soup home, an apron each and of course the 12 card recipe collection so you can put what you've learned into practice.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £250 or more
About $401

Soup at home. This is a brand new reward we're offering. For this level of support we will bring a souper dining event to your house for up to 10 people. It's good for anywhere in Edinburgh - inside the bypass area. You choose an evening for the event and we'll bring along a selection of our finest soups, salads, deserts, toppings, a fruit platter and of course artisan bread. It will all be delivered to you on the Union bike (heck we might even let you have a test ride) and you get a soupmonger for up to three hours to see to your every (soup-based) need. This may be a great way for several of you to club together and spread the cost for something we plan to make very special. (This is also added to the Soup Maestro.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £300 or more
About $481

Soup genius. We work with you to create a recipe to your instructions, you choose a name (within reason naturally) and then once we have got it right, we will sell it in the cafe and via wholesale. Who knows how far your soup can go? If you can get into Edinburgh you can come into the kitchen and develop it with us, otherwise we’ll work with you to make that soup the best it can be. (Maybe we’ll Skype you into the kitchen!) Of course you will be welcome to come in and have it for free whenever it is on. If you are not in Edinburgh we’ll make sure you get plenty of photos of the soup in action.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £500 or more
About $801

The Golden soupon! Free soup everyday for a year. You get one of just five Golden Soupons that entitles you to a free standard or large soup at Union of Genius cafe every day we’re open for the next year. It is good for sit in or take away but you will need to make it to the cafe to have your soup. The soupon is not transferrable but you can ask us to put someone else’s name on it if you want to give it as a gift.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £750 or more
About $1,202

The Lifetime soupon. Free soup for life! Surely you can’t be serious? Well we are and don’t call us Shirley. You get a unique soupon which entitles you to a free soup of any size (even a bread bowl) at Union of Genius cafe once a week for the rest of your life. It really is that simple. It is good for sit in or take away but you will need to make it to the cafe to have your soup. Your name will go on the website and Facebook page as one of the Final Five Soupreme Patrons. The soupon can be put in a single or joint name so you can share the soup. If you ever lose your soupon, don't worry, we'll replace it for you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £1,500 or more
About $2,404

Soup Maestro. You are the one. You get a Lifetime soupon (free soup for life), the full soupmongering kit with the one-off logo “soup maestro,” pride of place on our soupporters pages, a three hour Soup Masterclass with Elaine for you and a friend, we will name a soup of your choice after you and we will hang a framed photo of you (or a photo of your choice) in the cafe with the caption “Soup Maestro.” You're welcome to hang out in the cafe or kitchen whenever you want and if you ever need a hug, we're here for you.